The historic former malthouse and hardware store The historic former Drews Ironmongers hardware store has been saved again from demolition, with a planning inspector rejecting the appeal of a developer who planned to replace it with 44 flats. Plans to demolish the locally-listed building on 71-73 Caversham Road, which is also a former malthouse, and replace it with a seven-storey apartment block were rejected in October 2020 by Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee. An appeal was lodged by developer S2 Caversham but has now been rejected by a government planning inspector, who said the benefits “do not outweigh the significant harm the proposal would have on the character and appearance of the area and the significance of a non-designated heritage asset”.